Jeremiah Smith hates Michigan, Julian Sayin needs a chip on his shoulder in 2026 and Ryan Day receives a bonus for Ohio State's cumulative GPA this school year.
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ROAD WORK AHEAD. Where can Julian Sayin specifically improve entering his second year as Ohio State’s starter? ESPN’s Jordan Reid spoke with NFL evaluators this month while scouting the strengths and weaknesses of 22 college quarterbacks.
Where he excels: Sayin excelled in his first season as a starter, finishing with 3,610 passing yards and 32 touchdowns to eight interceptions. He's a point guard-like distributor whose game centers on accuracy. His 77% completion percentage led all passers last season. His placement makes the after-catch process seamless for receivers, as he puts the ball on the proper parts of their frames. Sayin repeatedly takes what defenses give him underneath while also being aware of when to loft throws downfield. His alertness with protections at the line is also obvious, as he gets a lot of freedom to alter playcalls.
Where he needs work: Sayin doesn't have ideal size, and his lack of arm strength to drive the ball into tight areas is apparent, resulting in few throws in the middle of the field. The Buckeyes' offense has a lot of predetermined deep throws to the outside and quick-game concepts attacking the off coverage by defenders. Pre- to post-snap coverage rotation was a constant battle for Sayin last season, especially in losses to Indiana and Miami. Scouts also want to see Sayin use his mobility more. His youth (20 years old) might lead him to wait until 2028 to enter the draft.
I found Reid’s point about Sayin’s age interesting. Yes, he’s 20, but he’ll turn 21 on July 23. That’s young, but not unusually young for a successful college or NFL quarterback.
To me, Sayin’s age becomes irrelevant given his experience. He started 14 games in 2025, and if Ohio State makes another national title push, he could enter the NFL draft with around 30 career starts. Alabama’s Ty Simpson — who is almost identical in size to Sayin at 6-foot-1 and 211 pounds compared to Sayin’s 6-foot-1 and 208 pounds — was the No. 13 overall pick in April despite making only 15 career starts for the Crimson Tide, all coming in 2025.
If Sayin continues improving his pre- and post-snap recognition while becoming more willing to use his mobility, there’s no reason he can’t become the best quarterback in college football this fall and one of the top picks in the 2027 NFL draft.